Paul Quinn (footballer, born 1985)

Born in Wishaw, Quinn came through the youth ranks at Motherwell and signed a professional contract with the club on 12 May 2002. In the 2002–03 season, he made his first professional appearance for the club, replacing Brian Dempsie as a substitute during the SPL game against Celtic on 1 December 2002.[3] He did not feature regularly but in following seasons he proved his worth and also his versatility, by starting 27 and 26 games in all competitions during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons respectively, filling a number of different positions in the Motherwell defence. Quinn scored his first goal for Motherwell during the Scottish Premier League match against Kilmarnock on 21 February 2004.[4] He did not score another goal for the club for over three years, when he scored during a league match against Aberdeen on 15 September 2007.

He was restricted to just 21 games during the 2005–06 season, but in the following seasons, he established himself as a first team player and at the beginning of the 2007–08 season he was a first choice in the Motherwell defence, displacing Martyn Corrigan at right back. Such has been the quality of his performances and the general improvement in his game under Mark McGhee that Corrigan was limited to one starting performance during the first half of the 2007–08 season and left to seek first-team football at Kilmarnock.

On 11 January 2008, it was announced that Quinn would assume the role of club captain, due to the sudden death of Phil O'Donnell the previous month. At the age of 22, Quinn became one of the youngest captains in the Motherwell's history. Although vice-captain Stephen Craigan was widely expected to be promoted to the position of club captain, he continued in his existing role.

On 4 June 2009 he signed for Football League Championship side Cardiff City on a three-year contract for a fee of around £300,000,[5] describing the transfer as his "ideal move".[6] He made his debut for the club in a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United, the first competitive match at the Cardiff City Stadium. On 17 August 2010, it was revealed that Motherwell were still owed around £175,000 of the transfer fee and that no further payments had been made toward the fee since January 2010.[7] However, the following week Cardiff reached an agreement with Motherwell and £100,000 of the remaining fee was paid.[8] Quinn scored his first Cardiff goal on 2 April 2011, in a 4–1 win over Derby County.[9]

Quinn was named captain for the League Cup game against Oxford United.[10] and again for Huddersfield Town. He got his first league appearance off the season against Southampton, on 28 September, following a knock to Kevin McNaughton in the game. After only four starts during the season, Quinn was released at the end of his contract.[11]

Following his release, Quinn joined Doncaster Rovers on trial playing in a goalless draw against Sheffield Wednesday.[12] On 9 August, Quinn signed a one-year deal at Keepmoat Stadium.[13]

Quinn then went on to make 43 league and cup appearances for Doncaster Rovers, helping them become League 1 Champions when he cleared the missed penalty at the Brentford game on the final day of the season, his long pass out of the box finding Billy Paynter just inside his own half who went up to the other end and passed to James Coppinger to score the winner. On 27 July 2013 he signed a new deal lasting until June 2015.[14] However, on 22 August 2014, his contract with the club was ended by mutual consent[15]

Quinn returned to Scottish football in October 2014, when he signed for Ross County.[16] He made his debut as a substitute in Ross County's 5–0 loss against Celtic on 18 October 2014.[17]

In June 2015, Quinn signed a two-year deal with Aberdeen after becoming a free agent.[18] He made his debut for Aberdeen on 2 July 2015, against FK Shkëndija in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.[19] Quinn scored his first league goal for Aberdeen in the 86th minute of a 2–1 victory against Celtic at Pittodrie, sending Aberdeen to the top of the table.[20]

On 26 January 2016, Quinn returned to Ross County, signing an 18-month contract.[21] He scored on his debut as Ross County beat Celtic 3–1 to reach the final of the Scottish League Cup.[22] He played in the final, as Ross County won 2–1 against Hibernian.[23]

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Quinn was handed the captaincy at Ross County, after the previous captain Andrew Davies had asked to leave the club.[24] At the end of his contract, Quinn was released by Ross County.[25]

Quinn signed a short-term contract with Scottish Championship club Dundee United in August 2017.[26] In January 2018, he extended his contract until the end of the 2017–18 season.[27][28] Quinn was released by United in May 2018, following the end of his contract.[29]